Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1887-09-02
Report Of Prof. Davidson on Ignatius
Donnelly's Book ''The Great
CyptOgram."
Prof. Davidson Inclined to the Opinion
That Bacon is the Author to the
Shakespearean Plays.
Mr.. Donnelly's Disposition to Keep His
Secret at to His Plan of Oper-
alton Leaves Doubt.
Shakespeare's Real Character.

Shakespeare's Real Character.
New YORK, Aug. 27.-The world to-
morrow will contain a very elaborate ex-
position OF Ignatius Donnelly's attempt to
dethrone Shakespeare The article is by
Prof Thomas Davidson, we'll known
scholar, philosopher and critic. Mr.. Da-
wilson has recently paid Donnelly visit
at his home at Hastings, examined the
manuscript of his forthcoming work, the
"Great Cryptogram," had the main feat
ures of the cypher explained to him and
obtained permission to report Before ex-
amining Mr.. Donnelly's work Mr.. David
son was an entire sceptic in regard to the
Bacon theory, but he now admits that he
is very much shaken in his belief that the
plays were written by shakespeare and
declares that if they had come down to us
without any authors name attached, they
would have been unhesitatingly attributed
to Bacon. He says he reached this con-
viction altogether apart from the cypher.
The article gives a brief summary of the
results reached in Donnelly's book, which
is to be published about December Ist by
the firm of r.. S. Peale e Co. of Chicago.
The book is divided into two parts,
AN ARGUMENT AND A DEMONSTRATION.
The former collects, arranges and sums
up all the arguments that have been put
forward in the last thirty years in favor of
the Baconian theory and adds large
number of them. The author first endeav-
ors to show that the education and char
acter of William Shakespeare are such
that it is even ridiculous to imagine
that he could have written the plays
which are distilled from all the wisdom
and learning of the world. lie charges
Shakespeare with being stepped in
ALMOST EVERY KIND OF VICE;
to have been fornicator and adulterer; a
usurer; an oppressor of the poor; drunk
ard; systematic liar, and a forger of ped
igrees, dying in the prime of life from the
results of a three days drunken spree. He
next shows that we have no record that
Shakespeare owned library or even
book, and that not single scrap of manu-
script of his has come down to us. Don
nelly next proves very clearly that while
the author of the plays was an accom-
plished lawyer there is nothing. to show
After adducing evidence to show that
Bacon was poet, and the author of plays,
and a profound and learned philosopher,
he treats OF the
GEOGRAPHY oFlTHE PLAYS,
and here he brings out some most tell-tale
facts Neither Stratford (where Shake
speare was born) nor Avon is ever once
mentioned in the plays. St. Albans, the
home Of Bacon, is mentioned twenty
three times. He next shows that the poll
itics and religion of the writer of the plays
are Identical with BacOn'S politics and re-
ligiOn, and that what Bacon declared to
be his great life purpose is fully exempli-
fed in the plays. A chapter is devoted to
BacOn's
REASONS FOR CONCEALMENT.
Among the political tendencies of some Of
the plays was to encourage treason. The
first part of the work closes with long
list of parallelisms between Bacon's ac-
knowledged works and Shakespearean
| plays. Identical expressions, quotations,
etc. AS to the title itself, Mr.. Davidson
does not claim to be in a position to en-
| tirely satisfy the public. not hav ing re-
| ceived from Mr.. Donnelly the ultimate for
mula of it. He does, however, express his
| strong conviction that Mr.. DOnnelly is
neither a fraud nor crank. About the
| cypher itself much new information is
given. Its basis numbers and it's mOdifiers
are disclosed and it is shown whence they
are derived. Information is also given
| as to
HOW CALCULATIONS ARE MADE
and assurance is made that except in pos
sible clerical errors they are correct. Some
notion of the labor gone through by Mr..
| Donnelly may be obtained from the state
ment that the slips of paper on which he
| made his calculations Che writes a fine
hand and on both sides Of the slips when
tied up in bundle can with difficulty be
lifted from the floor by strong man using
one hand. These essential points Mr..
Davidson declares that Mr.. Donnelly still
reserves to himself:
l. The rule determining the succession
of the basis numbers.
2. The rules determining the use of the
various modifiers.
3. The rule determining the column or
page on which the count in each case is
made.
4. The rule determining the starting
point Of the count in each case after the
page is settled.
These he admits are the most important
points to know since without them it Is
utterly impossible to pronounce any in
dependent judgment on the cypher. II
such rules exist the cypher IS reality and